how to create a voicethread assignment

Bucks VoiceThread: Create, Submit and Grade a VT Canvas Assignment

• About VoiceThread (VT)
• Add VT to your Canvas Course Space
• Create, Submit and Grade a VT Canvas Assignment
• Closed Captions with VT
• Troubleshooting VT

VoiceThread Assignment Creation

To create a VoiceThread assignment, you need to do two things:

• Create the VoiceThread assignment in Canvas
• Complete the details of the VoiceThread assignment in VoiceThread

Directions on how to complete the VoiceThread assignment in Canvas are included in the video listed below this content box. Directions on how to complete the assignment by entering the details in VoiceThread are located to the right of this context box and organized by type of VoiceThread assignment. 

• Canvas and VoiceThread How-to Website VoiceThread support created this excellent, all encompassing webpage devoted to Canvas and VoiceThread. You can add VoiceThread to a Module or create a VoiceThread assignment. Learn more and how-to by visiting this page.

Submitting a VoiceThread Assignment as a Student

• Student Guide for Submitting VT Assignments Screenshot directions on how to submit a VoiceThread comment, how to view a VoiceThread or how to create a VoiceThread for a course assignment in Canvas. Includes smartphone instructions.
• << Previous: Add VT to your Canvas Course Space
• Next: Closed Captions with VT >>
• Last Updated: Jun 8, 2022 10:32 AM
• URL: https://bucks.libguides.com/voicethread

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Collaborative Discussions

Voicethread and canvas assignments.

Updated on August 19, 2024

There are two primary ways to create linked VoiceThread assignments in Canvas. The first option uses Individual View, which takes students directly to a specific VoiceThread to view and comment. The second option uses the Assignment Builder, which lets you choose whether students will create their own VoiceThread, comment on one, or simply watch one.

Please note: If you want students to watch or comment on existing VoiceThreads, create and comment on that VoiceThread first, then make the Canvas assignment to which it will be attached to avoid a potential glitch.   See steps for creating and commenting on a VoiceThread .  

Getting Started 

• Once you have created your corresponding assignment in VoiceThread, you simply need to complete the rest of the assignment set-up, such as the due date and availability windows, and then click “Save.” 

Individual View 

If you want all of your students to interact with a particular VoiceThread, you can setup an “Individual View” assignment.

• After you have made your selection, follow the prompts to complete the process and fill in any further assignment details. You will not be able to grade the Assignment directly in VoiceThread, but after viewing the submissions, you can enter grades in the Canvas Gradebook. 

Assignment Builder 

Assignment Builder allows students to submit work directly to you without sharing it with the rest of the class. You can grade your students’ work directly in VoiceThread, and those grades will automatically populate in your Canvas Gradebook. 

After selecting “Assignment Builder,” you will see the three types of available assignments for students to complete: Create a VoiceThread, Comment on a VoiceThread, Watch a VoiceThread.  

• In each case, you can establish the requirements for commenting in the settings.  
• “Watch a VoiceThread” assignments won’t be marked complete until students have played any media all the way through and made the required comments. 
• If you are setting up an assignment for students to Comment on or Watch a VoiceThread, it is best to create and comment on that VoiceThread first, then create the Canvas assignment to which it will be attached.   See steps for creating and commenting on a VoiceThread . 

Select the option you prefer, and the prompts on the screen will guide you through the process of setting it up.  

Grading “Assignment Builder” VoiceThreads 

Once you save the assignment, it will either load right in Canvas underneath the assignment directions or open in a new tab, depending on how you configured the assignment settings. Once the assignment is published, VoiceThread will list your students on the right-hand side of the VoiceThread box. VoiceThread will separate students into two groups: “ungraded” (1) and “graded” (2). When you click on a student name under “ungraded,” their VoiceThread will appear to the left. Refresh the page to see incoming submissions and open the VoiceThread assignment in a new tab to view the submission in a larger window. 

See VoiceThread documentation on

• Student Gallery and Grading
• Information for students

VoiceThread: Interactive Presentations and Student Discussions

VoiceThread is an asynchronous multimedia slideshow tool that offers diverse applications, including lectures, discussions, student presentations, reviews, and more. It operates through the use of slides and comments, enabling collaboration via text, audio, or webcam. This versatile commenting feature facilitates seamless connections between students and instructors, making teaching and collaboration straightforward and fostering a asynchronous learning experience that feels personal and engaging.

Decide if VoiceThread is Right for You

• Using VoiceThread in Moodle

Best Practices and Examples

• Workshop Recording (2024)
• Workshop Recording (2023)
• Workshop Recording (Coming Soon)

Before incorporating VoiceThread into your teaching strategy, it’s important to consider whether it aligns with your course objectives and addresses potential learning gaps. VoiceThread is a versatile tool that can be used in online, face-to-face, and hybrid courses to bridge several common gaps that students may encounter:

• Engagement and Participation: In both online and face-to-face settings, students can struggle with staying engaged in traditional discussions. VoiceThread’s multimedia approach fosters active participation by allowing students to interact with course content, peers, and instructors in a dynamic way. Whether used in the classroom or online, the combination of audio, video, and text comments caters to different learning styles and keeps students engaged.
• Communication Skills: Developing strong communication skills is essential across all course formats. Traditional methods might limit students’ ability to express themselves fully, especially in online or large face-to-face classes. VoiceThread allows students to practice and enhance their verbal communication skills through peer reviews, presentations, or interactive lectures, making it a valuable tool in any course format.
• Connection with Content: In online and hybrid environments, students may feel disconnected from the course material. VoiceThread helps bridge this gap by enabling students to interact directly with the content, making it more accessible and engaging. Even in face-to-face courses, VoiceThread can supplement in-class discussions, allowing for deeper reflection and understanding outside of the classroom.
• Peer Interaction: Building a sense of community is crucial in all types of courses, but it can be particularly challenging in online and hybrid formats. VoiceThread supports peer-to-peer interaction by allowing students to share their thoughts and feedback on each other’s work, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This interaction is equally valuable in face-to-face settings, where it can enhance in-class discussions and group activities.

By considering these common learning gaps, you can better determine whether VoiceThread is the right tool for your course, If your goal is to enhance student engagement, communication, and interaction, VoiceThread could be an invaluable addition to your teaching toolkit.

Get Acquainted with VoiceThread

• Knowledge Base Article: Overview of VoiceThread
• Browse Example VoiceThreads

VoiceThread Digital Library

VoiceThread Blog

Using VoiceThread In Moodle

Step 1: getting started, add a voicethread home page or a voicethread course view to your moodle course..

Instructors may want to add a ‘VT Course View’ activity to Moodle for an easy way to access the VoiceThreads in the course. You can use this link to access the site easily or create new VoiceThreads. 

• You can choose to hide this from students or use this link as a library of ungraded course content 
• Choose “Add and Activity or Resource” 
• Click “VoiceThread” 
• When the Moodle settings click “select content” 
• You can choose “course view” to only see VoiceThreads shared with that course, or VoiceThread Homepage which will display all VoiceThreads within each users profile. 
• If you want to hide this link from students, open the “Common Moodle Settings” drop down within the settings. 
• Next to availability choose “hide on course page” to hide this link for students. You will still be able to see and use the link while in instructor-view.  
• Then click “save and return to course” to save your changes. 

Step 2: Deciding How You Will Use VoiceThread

VoiceThread, like most instructional tools, can be used for both graded and non-graded activities within Moodle. The first step is to decide how you will use VoiceThread. For ideas, be sure to check out VoiceThread best practices and examples .

There are three options for creating non-graded VoiceThread activities within Moodle. This is beneficial for instructors who want to share VoiceThreads with students without using them as graded assignments. 

Individual VoiceThread: Displays a single VoiceThread of your choice, students will only access the VoiceThread chosen. 

VoiceThread Homepage: Allows students to see all VoiceThreads they own or have access to. Through this link, students can access VoiceThreads they have created or any VoiceThreads associated with their enrolled courses.

VoiceThread Course View: Shows VoiceThreads that have been specifically shared with the course, including any graded VoiceThread assignments.

Be sure to read the Non-Graded VoiceThread Activity support article for more information about how to create non-graded activities within Moodle. 

Step 3: Create and Assignment Using VoiceThread

There are three options for creating graded assignments through the VoiceThread activity in Moodle. Assignments can be adapted to suit your needs and settings can be adjusted after the assignments are created.

• Create Assignment: This assignment will require students to create a full VoiceThread. This will require students to upload all slides and comments to their own VoiceThread and then submit that to the instructor for grading.
• Comment Assignment: This assignment will require students to post comments on a VoiceThread that has already been created. Depending on your purpose you can change what students see and how they comment.

If you want students to add slides to a single VoiceThread and comment on other students’ slides, you can achieve this through the “Comment” assignment. Once selected, you can require students to add a specific number of slides and comments.

In Figure 1, you can see that this instructor wants students to add a slide, comment on their own slide, and then comment on a peer’s slide. This means students will add one slide but comment twice.

• Watch Assignment: This assignment will require students to watch a VoiceThread all the way through. This is great if you want students to watch content and you want to ensure they have viewed all of the media.

The following VoiceThread Support articles will help you create VoiceThread assignments in Moodle:

Adding a VoiceThread Activity to Your Course

Setting up a “Create” VoiceThread Assignment 

Setting up a “Commenting” VoiceThread Assignment

Setting up a “Watch” VoiceThread Assignment

• Peer Review Presentations Using VT – University of Arizona (University of Washington)
• Course Introductions example from the VoiceThread Blog: VoiceThread A to Z: Tips for the First Day of Class
• VoiceThread YouTube : VoiceThread Lectures
• VoiceThread YouTube: Student Presentations are Better with VoiceThread

Teaching Ideas and Additional Research

• Using VoiceThread for Business Courses – VoiceThread Blog
• Learning to Code Collaboratively with VoiceThread – VoiceThread Blog
• Using Comment Moderation to Evaluate and Reply to Your Students – VoiceThread Blog
• VoiceThread for Online Presence and Engagement – Arizona State University
• VoiceThread: Encourage student discussion and build community in online courses – University of Illinois Chicago 
• Microteaching in Isolation: Fostering Autonomy and Learner Engagement through VoiceThread – VoiceThread Research 
• Establishing a Virtual Makerspace for an Online Graduate Course: A Design Case – VoiceThread Research

VoiceThread Support Docs

VoiceThread Vendor Workshops

Register for VoiceThread Workshops

• Getting Started with VoiceThread: Workshop Recording
• VoiceThread: Level up Presentations and Student Discussion : Workshop Recording
• Register: Micro-Learning with VoiceThread
• Register: Get Your Student Talking with VoiceThread
• University of Arizona. (n.d.). Peer Review Presentations Using VoiceThread . Retrieved from University of Washington website .
• Arizona State University. (n.d.). VoiceThread for Online Presence and Engagement . Retrieved from Arizona State University website .
• University of Illinois Chicago. (n.d.). VoiceThread: Encourage Student Discussion and Build Community in Online Courses . Retrieved from University of Illinois Chicago website .
• VoiceThread. (n.d.). VoiceThread Blog . Retrieved from https://voicethread.com/blog
• VoiceThread. (n.d.). VoiceThread Research . Retrieved from https://voicethread.com/research

Canvas @ Yale

• VoiceThread: Setting Up Graded Activities from the Assignment Builder

Updated on May 26, 2022

VoiceThread's Assignment Builder function allows instructions to create a graded assignment requiring students to create, comment on, or watch a VoiceThread. This activity is linked to the Canvas Gradebook.

Table of Contents

This article will address the following information:

• Option 1: Create a VoiceThread Activity
• Option 2: Submit a VoiceThread Comment Activity
• Option 3: Watch a VoiceThread Activity

Setting Up a Graded Activity

• Navigate to the " Assignments " section in your Course Navigation menu.
• Click the " + Assignment " button to begin creating a new assignment.

• Provide a Name for the assignment, and scroll down to the " Submission Type " section of the setup page.
• Under " Submission Type ," select " External Tool " from the drop down menu and check off to " Load This Tool In A New Tab ."
• Click the " Find " button on the " External Tool URL " text box.

• From the pop-up box that opens, select " VoiceThread " from the list.
• Click the " Select " button.

• Click the " Save " or " Save and Publish " button at the bottom of the setup page.
• Once saved, click on the assignment you just created. The " VoiceThread Setup " page will open in a new tab where you will able to choose " Assignment Builder ."

Once you have selected the " Assignment Builder " option, you be able to select how you want to setup this VoiceThread activity. The following options outline the three different ways you can configure a VoiceThread Assignment Builder activity.

• Selecting the " Create " option will allow students to create and submit a VoiceThread of their own.
• Click the " Continue " button once an assignment builder type is selected.

• Determine how many minimum or exact comments a student needs to make before they are allowed to submit their VoiceThread.
• Select what comment types / modalities are allowed.
• Enable / disable other comment features such as threaded comments, comment moderation, and comment length limits.
• Playback - Set how the students' VoiceThreads will play when viewed.
• Permissions - Select what permissions viewers will have when viewing students' VoiceThreads such as allowing them to download, export, and make copies of their work.
• Student Gallery - Allows students to see each other's submissions for this VoiceThread assignment.
• Once your settings are selected click the " Continue " button at the bottom of the page.

• Provide an " Assignment Name " that matches your Canvas assignment name.
• Write any " Assignment Instructions " if necessary.

• Put in a " Start date " and " Due date " that matches your Canvas assignment dates if configured.
• When done, click the " Publish " button.

• Selecting the " Comment " option will require students to make a minimum or specific number of comments on a VoiceThread you create / provide.

• Create a new VoiceThread - Check out these instructions on creating a new VoiceThread .
• Pick an existing VoiceThread - Click the drop-down menu to choose if you want to also copy any comments on the VoiceThread.
• Click the " Continue " button.

• Once you have selected / created your VoiceThread media, you will be able reorder your slides , as well as add additional media if you want to combine materials.
• When ready, click the " Continue " button again to be taken into your VoiceThread to make any guiding comments / narration.

• Click the " Comment Wheel " to select the comment type you want to record.
• Use the arrow keys to navigate forward and backwards in your VoiceThread to record comments on each slide.
• Click the " Continue " button when done recording any comments

• Determine how many minimum or exact comments a student needs to make before they are allowed to submit their participation in this VoiceThread assignment.
• Enable/disable other comment features such as threaded comments, comment moderation, and comment length limits.
• Playback - Set how the VoiceThread will play when viewed.
• Permissions - Select what permissions viewers will have when viewing the VoiceThread such as allowing viewers to download, export, and make copies of the VoiceThread.
• Once your settings are selected, click the " Continue " button.

• Provide an " Assignment name " that should match the name given the Canvas assignment, and any " Assignment instructions ."
• Fill out the Start and Due dates , which should also match the Canvas dates if set.
• When done, click the " Publish " button to finish creating the VoiceThread assignment.

• Selecting the " Watch " option will require students to watch or listen to the entire VoiceThread to be considered complete / get full credit for the assignment.

• When ready, click the " Continue " button to be taken into your VoiceThread to make any guiding comments / narration.

• Click the " Continue " button when done recording any comments.

• Set any video " Playback " or viewer " Permissions ."
• Click the " Continue " button to be taken to the final assignment setup.

For more help with VoiceThread, please contact  [email protected] .

Canvas @ Yale External Applications

• Ed Discussion: Overview
• Ed Discussion: Enabling Ed Discussion in Your Canvas Course
• Ed Discussion: Setting Up Your Course
• Ed Discussion: Creating and Managing Threads
• Ed Discussion: Managing Polls
• Ed Discussion: Getting a Direct Link to an Ed Discussion Category or Subcategory
• FeedbackFruits: Overview
• FeedbackFruits: Creating a New Activity in Canvas
• FeedbackFruits: Editing an Activity Linked in Canvas
• FeedbackFruits: Copying FeedbackFruits Activities from One Canvas Course to Another
• FeedbackFruits: Adding Yourself (an Instructor) as a Reviewer to a Peer Review Activity
• Gradescope: Overview
• Gradescope: Enabling Gradescope and Creating a New Course
• Gradescope: Syncing and Managing Your Canvas Roster
• Gradescope: Creating a Canvas Assignment
• Gradescope: Logging into Gradescope Outside of Canvas
• Gradescope: Assignment Workflow (Vendor Guides)
• LabArchives: Overview
• LabArchives: Activating Your Account
• LinkedIn Learning: Overview
• LinkedIn Learning: Assigning Content in a Canvas Assignment
• Classroom Lecture Capture Benefits
• Media Library (Panopto): Overview
• Creating / Uploading Media to the Media Library
• Methods to Record, Upload, and Share Course Welcome Videos on the Media Library in Canvas
• Recording Videos in Media Library using Panopto Capture
• Recording Videos in Media Library using Panopto Recorder
• Creating New Media Library Folders
• Setting Media Library Folders to Require Content be Manually Published
• Creating / Managing a Video Assignment Folder in the Media Library
• Restoring Archived Content
• Migrating Media Library Content from One Course Folder to Another
• Moving / Copying Media Library Items / Folders
• Finding and Moving Content that was in Media Gallery (Classes*v2)
• Sharing Media Library Content
• Sharing a Media Library Folder
• Sharing Media Library Content with Specific People
• Embedding Media Library Content into Canvas Pages
• Viewing Other Media Library Folders You have Access to
• Media Library Search Features
• Viewing Media Library Item / Folder Statistics and Usage
• Adding / Editing Captions on Media Library Content
• How to Enable ASR Captioning for Folders
• Commenting on a Media Library Item
• Allowing Media Library (Panopto) Access in the iOS Canvas App
• Panorama: Overview
• Panorama: Viewing and Understanding a File's Accessibility Score
• Panorama: Downloading Alternative Formats
• Panorama: Points of Contact by School
• Perusall: Overview
• Perusall: Enabling Perusall in Your Canvas Course
• Perusall: Creating a Perusall Assignment
• Perusall: Copying a Perusall Course to a New Canvas Course
• Poll Everywhere: Overview
• Logging into Poll Everywhere
• Installing the Poll Everywhere Desktop Application
• Creating Polls in Poll Everywhere
• Configuring Your Poll in Poll Everywhere
• Adding Images and Alt-Text in Poll Everywhere
• Syncing Your Canvas Roster to Poll Everywhere
• Exporting Poll Results to Canvas Gradebook
• Inserting and Running Poll Everywhere in PowerPoint on Windows
• Inserting and Running Poll Everywhere in PowerPoint (or Keynote) on Mac
• Poll Everywhere (Vendor Guides)
• Post'Em: Overview
• Post'Em: Enabling Post'Em in Your Canvas Course
• Post'Em: Uploading and Releasing Feedback to Students through Post'Em
• Post'Em: Completing Additional Actions
• External App: Cengage WebAssign (Applicable Disciplines)
• External App: Examity (Yale Online Summer Session Programs)
• External App: ExamSoft (Yale School of Nursing)
• External App: MacMillan Learning - Achieve (Chemistry & Applicable Disciplines)
• External App: MobLab (School of Management)
• External App: WirisQuizzes (Select Courses)
• External App: WileyPLUS (ONEXYS Courses)
• External App: DawnSign (ASL)
• Qualtrics LTI: Overview
• Qualtrics LTI: Embedding Course / User Data in Surveys
• Qualtrics LTI: Connecting Your Canvas Account to the Qualtrics LTI
• Qualtrics LTI: Adding a Survey to your Canvas Course
• Respondus LockDown Browser: Overview
• Respondus LockDown Browser: Enabling Respondus for Your Course
• Respondus LockDown Browser: Adding Respondus to a Canvas Quiz
• Turnitin: Overview
• Turnitin: Creating a Turnitin Assignment
• Turnitin: Assignment Settings Options
• Turnitin: Viewing the Similarity Report / Originality Score (Instructor Guide)
• VoiceThread: Overview
• VoiceThread: Setting Up Non-Graded Activities
• WordPress: Overview
• WordPress: Requesting a WordPress Blog Site
• WordPress: Removing Course Blog Links from Copied / Imported Canvas Course Content
• WordPress: Course Blog User Role Overview
• WordPress: Changing Course Blog Site Visibility
• WordPress: Adjusting Comment Moderation Settings
• Zoom: Overview
• Setting Up Your Zoom Account
• Logging into the Zoom Application Using Your Yale Credentials
• Logging into the Zoom App from Your Smartphone / Tablet Using Your Yale Credentials
• Linking a Personal Zoom Account Using a Yale Email Address to a Yale Zoom Account
• Enabling Zoom within a Canvas Course
• A Strategy to Organize Discussion / Lab Section Zoom Schedules
• Scheduling Zoom Meetings within Canvas
• Adding a Passcode / Waiting Room to Your Canvas Zoom Meetings
• Adding a Co-Host / Alternative Host for a Zoom Meeting
• Alternative Strategies While Teaching Through Zoom
• Displaying and Joining Zoom Meetings from Canvas
• Configuring Your Microphone / Speakers / Camera in Zoom
• Inviting Guests to Your Zoom Session
• Using Breakout Rooms in Zoom
• Zoom Cloud Recordings: Accessing / Downloading / Sharing via Media Library
• Recording Zoom to the Cloud for Proctoring
• Zoom Local Recordings: Accessing / Sharing via Media Library
• Using the Zoom / Panopto (Media Library) Integration
• Checking / Taking Attendance in Past Zoom Meetings
• Yale University Library and Zoom
• Resolving Zoom Errors (Error 2216 / Error 1001)

Other Resources

• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Canvas @ Yale Settings
• Enrollment & Permissions
• Technical Support Guides
• Updates & Known Issues
• Canvas @ Yale Admin / Registrar
• Instructor Getting Started Guides
• Course Management
• Assessments, Feedback and Grades
• Discover Instructional Tools
• Instructor FAQ
• Student Getting Started Guides
• Student Assessment Guides
• Student FAQ

Canvas at JHU

VoiceThread

• VoiceThread is web-based presentation software that allows users to create and share interactive multimedia slideshows.
• It transforms media into collaborative spaces within courses with video, voice, and text commenting.
• VoiceThread presentations are used to showcase audio, video, images, and documents while allowing users to comment on them in a variety of different ways.
• The result is a digital conversation that can be easily shared with individuals, groups, and/or embedded into different websites, including Canvas.

Quick Links

What canvas roles work with this tool.

• Best Practices and Accessibility
• Additional Resources
• Add the actual VoiceThread assignment to the SIS term shell with the instructions below.
• Build your VoiceThread Assignment using Canvas and the steps below to ensure that when you grade the VoiceThread assignment, the grade is then passed automatically to your Gradebook.
• If you’re having trouble getting your account set up or for other technical support, you can review solutions on the  JHU VoiceThread Support Page  or contact your faculty support at your division .
• If you want to add a Rubric to a VoiceThread Assignment, you need to add it first and then edit it to add the Rubric itself. Follow the instructions under Using Rubrics in VoiceThread .
• There is a known issue that causes VoiceThread assignments to appear as if they have been turned in late regardless of when they were submitted by the student. This can happen when you have an VoiceThread Assignment in your course with a Due Date. If you grade that assignment after the due date, the student submission will be marked late . This is a known issue in Canvas with VoiceThread.

Steps to Create a VoiceThread Assignment in Your Canvas Course

• On the Modules page click on the plus (+) sign to add assignment.
• Select Add Assignment.
• Click on Create Assignment.
• Add Assignment Name.
• Click Add item.

• The Assignment will be placed at the bottom of the current Module.
• Click on the Assignment link to launch the Assignment Page.
• Click on Edit.
• This link provides an introduction to VoiceThread .
• This explains how VoiceThread works to  build out and share content on the VT side at JHU .

• Move down to Submission Type and change selection to External Tool. 
• Put a checkmark in Load this Tool in a New Tab, and then click on Find. 

• A Configure External Tool window will open. Move down and click on VoiceThread.

• The VoiceThread window will open. Select Assignment Builder.

• The Assignment Builder Window will open.
• Click on Create and add all the elements for the assignment.
• See next step for the Assessment Settings to apply before publishing.

• Before Publishing the assignment,  Change the Assessment options to Points.
• Enter the total number of points possible (the points should match Assignment on Canvas side).
• This step allows the VoiceThread grade to pass back to the Gradebook. Instructors will need to grade in VoiceThread.
• They will not have to manually add the Grade to Canvas. As a note, VoiceThread submissions will not show in SpeedGrader.

• Click on  Publish . The window will close and return to the Configure External Tool Window.
• If you see a URL in the window, your assignment has been created (including any instructions you might want to add).

• Click on Select to add the VoiceThread Assignment to the Assignment Page (you will not be able to see the VoiceThread Assignment yet).
• Finish updating the Assign Box and then  Save  the VoiceThread Assignment.

• The final view will have a button to launch the assignment in a new tab.

Using Rubrics in VoiceThread

The using Rubrics with an External Tool like VoiceThread requires the following.

• Create the assignment as a regular online submission type, save it.

• Edit the assignment and select/add the rubric, and save.

• Go back and edit the Assignment changing the submission type to External Tool.

Best Practices and Accessibility 

Best practices.

Instructors, for face-to-face, online, or hybrid courses may want to consider using voice thread to:

• Share lecture slides or visual materials, with or without audio commentary.
• Ask students to comment on or respond to questions about those materials.
• Ask students to create, share, and peer review presentations.

Accessibility

• The university has vetted the current tools for compliance with accessibility and privacy standards.  
• VoiceThread has a Guide on Accessibility.  

Additional Resources 

• VoiceThread Non-Graded Content/Options
• JHU VoiceThread Support Page  

Center For Teaching, Learning, and Educational Technologies

Voicethread assignment - comment on a presentation.

This is a faculty tutorial on how to create a Comment assignment for students.

• If this is your first time creating a VoiceThread from scratch, please  create a VT Homepage link  before continuing with this tutorial.
• If you have created a VoiceThread in the past, please continue viewing the tutorial.

This type of assignment provides opportunities for students to present their understanding of the course topics, demonstrate their speech, language, or any other skills. You can also allow students to see their peers’ presentations and comment on them in video, audio, or text format.

Follow the steps in the linked tutorial below to create such an assignment. Afterward, a grade column is added automatically in your Blackboard (Bb) course Grade Center.

Creating a VoiceThread link to add your assignments

To create any VoiceThread (VT) assignments, you will need to create a space to put all your assignments. This is a tutorial on how to create a VoiceThread link in your Bb course.

VoiceThread is integrated into Bb. It works best on Google Chrome and Firefox.

1. Go to a content area page in your Bb course.

2. Click "Build Content" > "York VoiceThread".

3. On the Create VoiceThread screen, type in an appropriate name and description/instruction.

4. When creating an assignment, click Yes for "Enable Evaluation".

5. Fill in possible points, set up a due date, and click "Submit".

6. Click on the newly created VoiceThread link.

7. Under "Choose an activity type" page, click on "Assignment Builder".

Creating a Comment Assignment

1. From the Assignment Builder page, click "Comment," then "Continue".

2. You will see previous VT videos that you've created. If you want the student to comment on a previously created VT video, click on the thumbnail, select which comments you would like to use for this assignment, and click "Continue".

If you have not created a VT video, click "+ Create New VoiceThread" on the top-right-hand corner," add your video/slide, and click "Continue".

3. Add media and edit slides if necessary, then click "Continue".

4. To record additional comments for students, click on the "+ Comment" in the middle, and press "Continue" when you finish adding the comments.

5. Modify Participation requirements, student comment types, and additional permissions.

6. You may limit the comment type by students only using Mic or Webcam so they cannot upload text and other media. If you want to make sure that the voice recorded is really from your students, you can limit it to Webcam only.

7. If you do not want students to view other students' comments, checkbox "Enable comment moderation".

8. Student Gallery: If you want students to see each other's works for student interaction, check-box "Allow students to see other's submission to the assignment" then "Continue".

9. Add Assignment Name, Instructions, and Optionally Example URL.

10. Setup your date restrictions:

• Start date  is when the assignment is available to students.
• Due date  is when the assignment is due.
• Close date  is when the assignment is not visible to students.

11. Check-box if you want to allow students re-submission and/or view their assignments after submission.

12. Select the Grading type: Percentage, Complete/Incomplete, and Points.

13. Click "Publish" and your VoiceThread comment assignment is created.

Click  Grading an assignment  to learn how to assign a grade.

If you want to add comments or feedback to submitted assignments, view the tutorial on adding private comments below.

Click  Adding private comments to student  to learn how to provide private comments to your students' submitted assignments.

Additional Resources:

• Setting up a comment assignment  - provides a detailed description of each option mentioned here.
• Creating videos, voice-over-PowerPoint or mini-lectures on VoiceThread
• Creating a Presentation assignment  that requires students to present course-related topics with audio or video/webcam.
• Creating a Watch assignment  - that requires students to watch your VT presentations.
• VoiceThread FAQs for students

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For details about how to set up VoiceThread actives and grade assignments, please visit the instructor support page .